. SUNZU

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
TOWERING Chipolopolo defender Stoppila Sunzu has been voted the Best Player at French side, FC Sochaux-Montbeliard for the month of January.
This award comes barely a month after Sunzu and compatriot, Nathan Sinkala joined the struggling French Ligue 1 side from TP Mazembe of DR Congo.
Sunzu’s rating was given a peak valuation after he scored the winner in the 1-0 win over Ligue 1 giants Nantes to effectively set in motion Sochaux’s relegation beating crusade.
The official Club website fcsochaux.fr stated that Sunzu polled the highest number of votes from the fans to take the big prize which will be awarded to him next weekend.
Sunzu beat Frenchman Sebastien Corchia and Ghanaian forward, Jordan Ayew to the top prize.
“Stoppila Sunzu was elected best player of the FCSM of January 2014. He got 26.2 per cent of the vote. The Zambian narrowly beat Sebastien Corchia (23.7 per cent) while Jordan Ayew, who received 13.4 percent, completed the podium,” the website said.
Sunzu joined Sochaux in the January transfer window from Mazembe on a three-year contract while midfielder Sinkala arrived in France on a season-long loan.
Ayew also moved during the same transfer window from Marseille.
Sunzu has played every game for the Herve Renard coached outfit while compatriot Sinkala had to sit out of three past games as he was serving suspension he got from red card.
Zambian striker Emmanuel Mayuka took the same award for the month of November last year after making a summer switch from English side Southampton
Mayuka was elected best player for Sochaux for November, 2013 with 68.6 percent of the votes for the Zambian to outstrip Sebastian Corchia  who this time got only 9,7 per cent and then Sanjin Prcic on4,3 per cent.
To get the award, Mayuka had in November scored a goal each in matches against Olympique Marseille, SC Bastia and Toulouse FC.